Finding Daily Joy and Fun With Dementi

 

Finding Daily Joy and Fun With Dementia

 

 Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It causes a continuous decline in the thinking, behavioral, and social skills that allow a person to function independently. No treatment cures Alzheimer’s disease. However, laughter may still be the best medicine.

The truth is we all feel a bit calmer, happier, and healthier after a good laugh. Laughter lifts our spirits and reduces anxiety, which is often the cause of wandering and emotional outbursts in patients.

It isn’t easy to accept that your loved one might not remember you all the time, but as a caregiver, you can improve their quality of life. Add fun-filled and creative activities to their daily routine. Help them remember pleasant memories from the past and encourage them to engage in activities they enjoy. This can lead to productive and satisfying lives because they are less likely to get stressed or show worrying behaviors.

Here are few ways to spice up their day…

#1 Create a daily routine

Routine is a great source of comfort. Help them create a predictable daily routine. This will help to minimize distractions.

#2 Meaningful activities

Allow them to engage in activities that make them feel useful and good about themselves. It has to be something they enjoy doing. Select these activities based on their abilities

#3 Music

Music is food for the soul. It has a great influence on our emotions. Play the music they prefer and encourage some movement. If they want to dance, dance with them!

Nothing prepares you for this illness. However, don’t dwell on it. Value the moment shared together, the pearls of wisdom, their smile, and their humor.

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

Alzheimer’s: Communication Tips for Caregiver

Alzheimer’s: Communication Tips for Caregivers

 

 

Have you ever felt this frustration when your loved one forgets meeting a person or even knowing them at all? How often have you said, “You know him, Dad, you met him last week at dinner”, or “you remember, we went there yesterday?”

These phrases have no relevance to those with Alzheimer’s. These people have issues with thinking and remembering how to manage their life. Their symptoms range from short-term memory loss to personality changes like depression and mood swings.

These effects can be overwhelming—your world has been turned upside down, and you find it difficult to communicate with them.

 

Keep calm and follow these tips:

#1 Clear All Distractions

Whenever you want to talk to them, noisy interruptions can distract both of you. Always chose a quiet and peaceful environment for your conversations.

#2 Listen

This is needed for individuals with memory impairment. Learn to listen to them. Resist the temptation to butt in with a comment. Give them the time and space to express themselves.

#3 Use Memory Cues

Photos and letters can help you jog memories. How about sitting together while checking out old pictures? This is soothing and therapeutic.

#4 Don’t Correct or Contradict

Refrain from quizzing them, even when you don’t agree with what they are saying. Try to stop yourself from correcting them.

#5 Respond With Affection

People with dementia often feel anxious, confused, and unsure of themselves. Sometimes holding hands and responding with expressions of support and reassurance will put them at ease.

Through all these difficult moments, always remember that:

Those with dementia are still people, they still have stories, they still have character, and they are all unique, and they need to be treated as humans.

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

 

Alzheimer’s: Communication Tips for Caregivers

https://www.pexels.com/photo/joyful-adult-daughter-greeting-happy-surprised-senior-mother-in-garden-3768131/

Have you ever felt this frustration when your loved one forgets meeting a person or even knowing them at all? How often have you said, “You know him, Dad, you met him last week at dinner”, or “you remember, we went there yesterday?”

These phrases have no relevance to those with Alzheimer’s. These people have issues with thinking and remembering how to manage their life. Their symptoms range from short-term memory loss to personality changes like depression and mood swings.

These effects can be overwhelming—your world has been turned upside down, and you find it difficult to communicate with them.

 

Keep calm and follow these tips:

#1 Clear all distractions

Whenever you want to talk to them, noisy interruptions can distract both of you. Always chose a quiet and peaceful environment for your conversations.

#2 Listen

This is needed for individuals with memory impairment. Learn to listen to them. Resist the temptation to butt in with a comment. Give them the time and space to express themselves.

#3 Use memory cues

Photos and letters can help you jog memories. How about sitting together while checking out old pictures? This is soothing and therapeutic.

#4 Don’t correct or contradict

Refrain from quizzing them, even when you don’t agree with what they are saying. Try to stop yourself from correcting them.

#5 Respond with affection

People with dementia often feel anxious, confused, and unsure of themselves. Sometimes holding hands and responding with expressions of support and reassurance will put them at ease.

Through all these difficult moments, always remember that:

Those with dementia are still people, they still have stories, they still have character, and they are all unique, and they need to be treated as humans.

 

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

The Benefits of Gratitude

Be thankful for each moment in your life. It’s what’s  BEST for you!

It’s November. The weather is cool. The holidays are here. Life is nice and cozy. 

But one thing is missing! The time to sit still, breathe freely and give thanks.

As I think about giving thanks for the blessings I have received this year, one special moment from the past comes to mind. I remembered how special the Thanksgiving of 1996 was and I was thankful. 

Previous Thanksgivings, the food was never done until evening, some of the food was burnt, something was always not right. My mother would always enjoy a few too many beers and didn’t quite get her portion of the meal prep in order. 

At the time it was annoying. Now as I think about it I have tears of joy in my eyes and the feelings of thanks in my heart. I am thankful that I was able to spend those times with her. 

Unfortunately that best Thanksgiving was the last Thanksgiving shared with my mother. 

That very last Thanksgiving we would share together in the flesh was oddly perfect. The food and desserts were completed before 12PM. Everything looked and tasted golden. We sat around, ate, had good conversation, napped and watched football all day. It was truly a day of thanks. And I am truly thankful for the memories that were created that day! 

Today I want you to stop and give THANKS to the memories that have meant so much to you.

The Benefits of Gratitude

#1 Brings you joy!

Being thankful gives you a happy feeling inside and that will show on the outside. 

#2 Benefits your health! 

Enjoy less worries and more laughs. 

#3 Breaks harmful mental anguish! 

Appreciating the small things makes the big issues less powerful. 

Subscribe for more helpful tips at https://www.youtube.com/user/vmanning44

P.S.

Enjoy the holidays and I hope you build many memories of thanks!

Did You Have an Awful Holiday? Here's How to Fix It...

Did You Have an Awful Holiday? Here's How to Fix It...

Now that Christmas 2018 is behind us many of you are probably reflecting on those family relationships that seemed a little awkward or tense.  Family Christmas celebrations have power to be the most stressful and depressing times of the year. During Christmas celebrations there is a compromise between enjoying family engagement or enjoying the gifts (especially if the gifts are not liked or appreciated).

 How do you get over lousy family relationships and crappy gifts after the holiday? Try these tips...

#1 Plan your vacation immediately after. In order to offset the annoying family and ugly gifts have your next luxurious vacay already planned out. When your nerves become on the edge visualize yourself enjoying time away, create great memories to override the terrible experience.

#2 Focus on the good memories. Remember when grandma was dancing like she was 16 again? What about the gag gift that your great aunt received that had everyone laughing? You have to remind yourself of the good to overcome the bad.

#3 Talk to a trusted family member. To keep you from feeling bad about the Christmas family time, tell someone who can understand how you feel. The good thing about sharing your feeling is that someone else will relate to you and you will not feel alone. Depression and stress results from holiday gatherings because you keep your dissatisfaction bottled up instead of releasing the tension.

Are you struggling with building better relationships?

GinMan Consulting can help you work through the 3Cs to a Thriving Relationship.

Contact GinMan Consulting @ 281-904-6483

to schedule your initial family session TODAY